Oklahoma Indie Musician / Songwriter / Producer — Samantha Crain shares an authentic minute with us discussing the Americana genre and how music found its way into her days.

You are being called out into the spotlight globally for your influence in the genre of “Americana” — can you talk about your progression here as an Artist?

I don’t really like being lumped into the Americana genre. I don’t feel like they are accepting or supportive of me in the Nashville branch of that world. I’m assuming the subject matter or the way I write lyrics doesn’t fit their mold, or the arrangements I use on songs, doesn’t sound old timey enough for them. I’m not trying to sound of another era. There are plenty of influences I have from other eras but I’m aware that I am a 21st century writer and I think it is important to own up to that. I think what I do is more accepted by the singer/songwriter crowd and the indie rock crowd. Either way, I am an American, singing songs, mostly, about my experiences in America, so for that reason, I should be categorized as an Americana artist. But when I started playing, Americana wasn’t really a scene yet. At least not really in name, and it wasn’t as big and organized as it is now. My progression as an artist has been only reliant on a grass-root fan base, the Americana world really hasn’t championed me in any way. Not like they have with Fullbright or Parker.

My dad and his brother played folk rock music together when they were growing up and that sorta filtered into my childhood…listening to them play together at church or family gatherings.

Also, my grandma, had this great free- styled jazzy way of playing southern baptist hymns, and I loved to listen to her play. I always loved music but didn’t really see myself as talented in a musical way, and wasn’t really interested in writing or playing music until I got out of high school. I became a little more introspective, more thoughtful, and this playing guitar and writing was a product of that.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of hearing Samantha Crain live, she is performing Myriad Botanical Gardens tomorrow (July 4 @ 8pm) and at the upcoming Make Guthrie Weird on July 12th @ 7:30pm. She has a free download of her amazing song, The Miner and more about her upcoming European tour here!